2014 NBA Mock Draft: Full 1st-Round Projections Following Lottery

It is crunch time in the NBA with the lottery in the books and the 2014 NBA draft on approach, as the major event looms large as a force that will change the current landscape of the league as we know it.

Andrew Wiggins and an elite class are set to take the league by storm in a sport widely run by superstars, at least outside of San Antonio. That facet is what makes the controversial lottery so integral for each franchise.

For the teams now slotted into order, maximizing value based on a marriage of need and value is a must. Let's take a look at how each team can do so to best put themselves in a position to improve thanks to an extremely deep draft class.

The owner of averages of 17.1 points, 1.2 threes, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks as a collegiate player, Wiggins is the surefire first pick off the board, regardless of team.

Like most teams that could have landed the No. 1 pick, Wiggins does not solve all the issues in Cleveland, but he's a superstar foundation to build around in combination with Kyrie Irving.

2. Milwaukee Bucks (15-67): Jabari Parker, SF, Duke

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The Milwaukee Bucks cannot afford to do anything but take the best player available.

Given there is great debate as to who the No. 1 player in the 2014 class actually is, Jabari Parker is in no way a bad consolation prize.

Parker can post excellent numbers as a rookie right off the bat and does much to solve the offensive issues the Bucks are sure to have next season.

3. Philadelphia 76ers (19-63): Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana

Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel are already in place in Philadelphia, a front office that has quietly done a nice job of building a foundation of its own.

Add in Noah Vonleh, and the future is bright.

Vonleh is a developmental piece, but can average quality points per game as a rookie, something the offense in Philadelphia desperately needs. Given a needs-based approach, Vonleh is a fantastic get, as long as fans don't expect him to fully blossom right away.

4.Orlando Magic (23-59): Dante Exum, PG, Australia

Victor Oladipo is better suited as a 2-guard, so Orlando adding the best point guard in the class should in no way come as a surprise.

As ESPN Stats & Info reveals, the 18-year-old prodigy stacks up well physically in comparison to some of the NBA's best:

Even better, Oladipo and Exum are interchangeable at their positions, giving the Magic the freedom to create mismatches on both ends of the court.

5. Utah Jazz (25-57): Joel Embiid, C, Kansas

Back issues will cause Joel Embiid to tumble on draft day, but he's arguably the biggest game changer in the class when healthy.

That's a risk the Utah Jazz will be more than willing to take with EnesKanter floundering in the middle. Holes abound on the roster, but a force like Embiid in the middle creates a ripple effect right away that the Jazz can build and rally around.

6. Boston Celtics (25-57): Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State

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The Boston Celtics are in rebuild mode, so a sound player like Marcus Smart, with seemingly unlimited upside, may turn out to be a better fit.

Smart projects as a defensive nightmare at the next level, as Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman helps to illustrate:

Not fully sold on Marcus Smart as a primary ball-handler/PG, but I am convinced he'll be a defensive terror at either guard position.

Smart can knock down shots from range and bang on the defensive end for the Celtics, which gives them versatility both on the court and further down in the draft. He also does much to help deter any concerns about a potential Rajon Rondo exit.

7. Los Angeles Lakers (27-55): Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse

With Exum off the board, the Los Angeles Lakers have to get the next best thing at point guard.

Yes, Tyler Ennis lacks the upside of some of his fellow points in this year's class, but he just so happens to be the most pro-ready.

Ennis is the player any team should want in charge of their offense from Day 1. That may not be the case right away in Los Angeles if Steve Nash sticks around, but the Lakers must have an eye on the future effective immediately.

8. Sacramento Kings (28-54): Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky

Julius Randle's sound game that is perhaps the most pro-ready of all in the class fits well next to DeMarcus Cousins, no?

There are holes aplenty in Sacramento, but reinforcing the unit beneath the rim should be a priority for the Kings.

Randle does that on his own at both ends of the court, but his pairing with Cousins is just downright scary and a great franchise centerpiece.

9. Charlotte Hornets (43-39): James Young, SF, Kentucky

The ceiling for James Young is quite high despite being somewhat lost in the shuffle of bigger names last year at Kentucky.

That won't be the case in Charlotte after long, as the Hornets need help in the scoring department, and Young does that right away. He averaged 14.3 points per game as a freshman, not typically given the credit he deserved, so Young will be more than comfortable to put points on the board.

Fans will cry foul at a power forward being added via the draft, but Clint Capela is a long-term solution at a spot supposedly owned by Taj Gibson.

Gibson is the starter no doubt, but Capela is a great rotational piece and defensive force. He gives the Bulls options now and long into the future. For a team with multiple picks, locking up a player with such a high ceiling is an easy decision.

17. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn [44-38]): Zach LaVine, PG, UCLA

Boston does not exactly have a stellar set of shooters with Rondo and Avery Bradley, and who knows what the future even holds for the former.

Zach LaVine does much to resolve both issues. He has the potential to be a force on both ends of the court as a pro, but can act as a great rotational piece right away.

With the future of Darren Collison an unknown, watch for a contender like the Los Angeles Clippers to be proactive in adding to the depth behind Chris Paul.

Elfrid Payton is a suitable addition, given the value, and provides a rotational presence with a knack for scoring. The Clippers' second team is already deep, but Payton manages to be an upgrade while he develops.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder (59-23): Jarnell Stokes, PF, Tennessee

Jarnell Stokes is a nice luxury pick for the Thunder near the end of the first round.

His ability to create from a decent distance, as illustrated by Ben Frederickson of govolsxtra.com, is a nice facet the Thunder will love off the bench:

In off-the-dribble drills from 15 feet out, Jarnell Stokes made 12 of 18.

Recent injury scares to Tony Parker have put a spotlight on the issue behind him at point guard in San Antonio.

SemajChriston is a nice insurance policy. His superb athleticism, court vision and ball skills make him an obvious fit and a developmental piece that can both learn from and eventually replace Parker in a few years.